What Brian Sorensen did on the touchline against Brighton speaks volumes about Everton display

With 33 minutes on the clock at Walton Hall Park, Everton boss Brian Sorensen sank to his haunches.

The Dane must scarcely have been able to believe what he was witnessing from his side in the opening stages of their Women's Super League opener with Brighton & Hove Albion. More than four months had elapsed since the Blues were narrowly beaten by Manchester City on the final day of last term.

And Everton's collective early ring rust was ruthlessly exploited by a Brighton side that looked like they were out for blood from the moment the first whistle blew on Merseyside. It took less than four minutes for the Seagulls to land their first blow, with Elizabeth Terland nodding home the rebound after Katie Robinson's strike had careened off the crossbar.

Robinson seemed to revel in her role as the Blues' chief tormentor - the England international ghosting inside and slotting the ball through to Terland, who compounded Everton's misery with a cool finish past the onrushing Emily Ramsey. The goal did, at least, inspire something of a resurgence from the hosts.

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Nicoline Sorensen skimmed the crossbar with a fine strike after 24 minutes. Though she perhaps should have done better when Nathalie Bjorn's cross fell to her inside the area, with the Dane sending her header well wide.

Everton started the second half with all the vim and vigour of a side that had been on the receiving end of some pretty stern words at the break. Summer signing Martina Piemonte, who had cut an isolated figure up front for much of the first half, was a handful for the Brighton defence and almost